TrustAfrica

Message from our Executive Director 2024: Building on the legacy of Great achievements As 2024 draws to a close, we take immense pride in reflecting on TrustAfrica’s remarkable accomplishments and the progress made across the continent. Guided by our focus on Democratic Governance, African Philanthropy, and Equitable Development, this year has seen some transformative efforts for our organisation and Africa as a whole. https://lnkd.in/eKGfG2vN

Day One Highlights of the High Level Multi-Stakeholder Convening The High Level Regional Multi-Stakeholder Convening in Ethiopia marked a significant step toward transforming the cotton and textile sector in Africa. The event brought together government officials, industry leaders, and international experts to explore opportunities for sustainable growth, regional collaboration, and value addition. H.E. Dr. Meles Mekonen, State Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of cotton in driving sustainable growth and improving farmer livelihoods. Ethiopia aims to produce 2-3 million tons of cotton, with the government committed to creating an environment that supports the growth of the sector. H.E. Mr. Hassan Mohammed, State Minister of the Ministry of Industry, underscored the need for infrastructure development and technology transfer to foster cotton manufacturing and strengthen Ethiopia’s position in the global market. ESACO Chairperson Ms. Driana Lwanda highlighted the importance of regional collaboration to address challenges like low productivity, price volatility, and climate change, while also promoting fair pricing. Discussions also centered on the crucial role of women in cotton production, with strategies to increase their involvement in all stages of the value chain. Major outcomes of Day 1 was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and the Government of Ethiopia, marking a commitment to making the sector globally competitive and attracting further investment. The cotton stakeholders (farmers, ginners, textile companies and Government) in Ethiopia demonstrated commitment to upholding inclusive dialogue by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This convening highlighted Ethiopia’s potential to lead Africa’s cotton and textile industry, but realizing this vision will require continued reforms, investment, and collaboration across all sectors. #CottonSector #SustainableGrowth #Ethiopia #TextileIndustry #RegionalCollaboration #WomenEmpowerment #AgriculturalReform #InvestmentOpportunities #PolicyTransformation

Shaping the Future of Eastern and Southern African Cotton! We are excited to announce, on 12-13 December 2024, Ethiopia will host a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Addis Ababa to explore the future of the cotton sector in Eastern and Southern Africa. This important event, organized by the FDRE Ministry of Agriculture, FDRE Ministry of Industry, TrustAfrica, GIZ, Solidaridad, will bring together key stakeholders to discuss solutions for pricing, policy, and productivity challenges in the cotton value chain. This event is a crucial step towards fostering sustainable and equitable growth for the cotton industry in Eastern and Southern Africa. We look forward to the collective action that will drive meaningful change across the region! Stay tuned for key updates and insights from the event! #InclusiveandSustainableCotton #FairPricing

TrustAfrica at the UNESCO International Forum on the Futures of Education. TrustAfrica, Executive Director, Dr Ebrima Sall was at the UNESCO International Forum on the Futures of Education, themed Renewing the Social Contract for Education and taking place in Sewun, South Korea, from the 2nd to the 4th of December 2024. Dr Ebrima Sall spoke on the High-level plenary panel on “Knowledge and Research for Just and Sustainable Futures” and participated in a parallel session, “Building Life-long and Life-wide Learning Societies.” As a key voice in global education reform, Dr. Sall was a member of the expert group that supported the International Commission on the Futures of Education, chaired by HE Sahle-Work Zewde, former President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. https://lnkd.in/gvWg2hji

TrustAfrica at OECD Africa Philanthropy Day! We have the pleasure to announce that our colleague Rouguietou Khady Sow will be representing TrustAfrica as a speaker at the OECD Africa Philanthropy Day on December 10th in Paris. Rouguietou will share valuable insights on “How can we strengthen philanthropy support for education?” This discussion builds on the findings of the recent Spotlight Report on Education Philanthropy in Africa, developed in collaboration with the International Education Funders Group (IEFG). Join us in celebrating the power of philanthropy to transform education across Africa! Together, we can amplify efforts to ensure every child has access to quality learning opportunities. 📅 December 10th 2024. 📌 Location: OECD, 2 rue André Pascal, Paris, France 🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/e5eJKJYc #TrustAfrica #OECD #Philanthropy #EducationInAfrica #PhilanthropyForEducation #SpotlightOnEducation

On this 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, TrustAfrica, under its Reclaim Sustainability! Programme, conducted a transformational leadership and governance training for women in the tea value chain association from 2nd to 5th December in Kericho, Kenya. This training addressed critical barriers that hinder women’s leadership in the tea sector, where women make up 60% of the workforce but remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces. The workshop emphasized feminist leadership practices, empowering women to thrive in safe, equitable workplaces while transforming governance in the tea value chain. Watch the highlights from the media engagement here: https://lnkd.in/ecZz5ziT #TrustAfrica #GenderEquality #16Days #Leadership #TeaSector #ReclaimSustainability #Kenya

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The municipality of Ngor, in collaboration with Layenne Assistance Médicale and TrustAfrica, successfully organized free consultation days at their premises in Ngor Almadies. Held on November 30 and December 1, 2024, these events provided hundreds of individuals with access to a wide range of medical treatments. The initiative was met with overwhelming appreciation from the local community, who enthusiastically participated to take advantage of the complimentary consultations. This collaborative effort not only addressed immediate healthcare needs but also fostered a sense of community support and solidarity

La commune de Ngor, Layenne Assistance Médicale et TrustAfrica dont les locaux se trouvent à Ngor Almadies ont organisé avec succès des journées de consultations gratuites. Ces journées qui se sont déroulées le 30 novembre et le 1er décembre 2024, ont permis à des centaines de personnes de bénéficier de soins divers. En outre, elles ont été très appréciées par les populations riveraines qui se sont mobilisées pour profiter des consultations gratuites.

Dear Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, I was planning to travel to Abuja to join those of your many friends, family and colleagues who have chosen a most appropriate way of celebrating your 70th birthday: organising a symposium to discuss your contributions to scholarship and to the advancement of democracy and peace. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to Abuja. So, let me wish you a very happy birthday. May you live to celebrate many more birthdays, in strong health and ever greater happiness. You and I first met at Cite Internationale Universitaire, a university residence in Paris, way back in the mid-1980s. We were both post-graduate students. You took on the role of a big brother and friend, and have never been different since then, even after the occasional long periods when our exchanges were not very frequent. Our very lively, sometimes heated conversations were not only about our doctoral dissertations, they were also about everything that was of significance to the world and Africa then, from the challenges of expanding democratic space in Nigeria--a subject you later led a CODESRIA resesrch group on and came up with a book-- through the national conferences in West and Central Africa, politics in France, to scholarship and development in Africa and around the world. One of the things I will also always remember is that you introduced me to CODESRIA, and to some of the people who became my best friends ever: Ayesha, Amina, Rakiya, Kole, Siddique, Bjorn (of blessed memory) and Gunila, Suleye Adji, Ousmane Kane... And, of course, Sister Charmaine. You cultivated similar relationships with many other scholars and activists. Thank you for your generosity, and for being such a good brother and mentor. You showed us how to be both a great scholar and a deeply committed leader fully engaged in the strugges for human and citizenship rights and peace. Enjoy the symposium and the party. The world and Africa are still not quite sure how to deal with developments such as the resurgence of militarism, the polycrises , populism, and fundamentalisms of various kinds, and all the other political challenges we are facing. So, I hope you are exercising. Because the energy you will need to lead the struggles of the next 70 years will be a lot. Joyeux anniversaire! Happy birthday again, Brother. Ebrima Sall Eexecutive Director TrustAfrica